new blog: Magical Express Age Limit Changes: A Parent's & Teacher's Perspective

[LeahZ]

Recently, Walt Disney World announced that the minimum age to ride a Disney’s Magical Express motor coach unaccompanied by an adult changed from 16 to 12. That’s quite a difference in age requirements. Four years in the life of a teenager is quite a difference in maturity and responsibility.

Read more:

http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2014/07/20/...limit-changes-a-parents-teachers-perspective/

 

[k5jm]

This made me LOL. I need to write an Op-Ed entitled, "Teachers driving, from a Tuba Player's and Police officer's perspective" because they are equally relevant.

Sorry Nikki. Love you to death, but I think Aaron had the only point of view that truly had relevance in the blog post.

My mother, a teacher, would make a comment as a mother on the age, but not from the perspective of a teacher.

I would call the blog non sequitur.

 

[seashoreCM]

The decision probably has to do with relaxed insurance company rules.

Many junior high school students ride subways and city buses to school.

I have ridden subways alone at age 10. Granted, I have made a few mistakes such as exited before my destination and having to pay again to get back in, but I have never needed help.

Parents have the choice of whether to let their children ride alone, or to make alternate arrangements on their own. They can still, from their resort or from a park, talk their children from the plane to the bus via cell phone.

 

[Princessofthehouse]

This whole thing is fascinating to me. Last summer, my 14 (almost 15) year old step-son joined us halfway through our Disney Vacation. He flew from Baltimore to MCO on his own and we had him use Magical Express to get to OKW to meet us. Granted, he had flown on his own before and had used Magical Express with us before. We kept in touch with him the entire time via his cell and it went great. The interesting this is HE WAS 14 AT THE TIME. We did not know anything about not using ME it until 16!! They must not have enforced it. We called, got him hooked up, etc...with no issues and this was July of 2013

 

[k5jm]

While I would never use DME, my 11 year old has traveled/flown enough that he would have no issues navigating to ME in MCO by himself. I am sure that if this was a problem, we would have a representative from the airlines escort him to ME, but he could do it by himself. Now for the real world scenario.

We traveled with a 9 year old who was not in our party a couple of years ago. He was not on our WDW reservations. He was going to meet his grandparents who were on property all ready. Now, he rode with us to WDW, but if we were to take DME, he would be a single traveler as he was not in our "party" or on our reservation.. There are real world scenarios that could play out.

And just for reference, here is the United Airlines policy on unaccompanied minors, aged 12-17:

Children ages 12 to 17 can pay the service charge to use the unaccompanied minor service for flights where unaccompanied minor travel is allowed, or they can travel as adults. Contact the United Customer Contact Center or your local travel agent to make arrangements for unaccompanied minor service.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just to add to what Mike said above, that 9YO is now almost 12 and in his case I wouldn't be at all comfortable having him do ME alone. (Thanks Mike)

So, I guess what we are all saying is "it depends" as far as the age of the unaccompanied traveler.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Honestly, I couldn't take the parent post seriously because of the first sentence: Some tourists may think sending your young child on a DME bus alone..."young child"

Umm, they lowered it to 12...so "young" children still won't be riding it alone...and if they honestly think of 12 year-olds as "young children" then either 1. they don't have any kids that are older then 7, 2. they have a teenager but are helicopter parents, 3. are purposely using the phrase to plant the image of a six year-old in the reader's mind to make their point.

Would I have let my teen ride it at 12? Probably not, she wasn't that focused and trustworthy...BUT she has a couple of friends that if I were their parents,I would let them.

At 13 now, I might consider it, a year can make a difference.

 

[k5jm]

Just to add to what Mike said above, that 9YO is now almost 12 and in his case I wouldn't be at all comfortable having him do ME alone. (Thanks Mike)

So, I guess what we are all saying is "it depends" as far as the age of the unaccompanied traveler.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

This made me LOL. I need to write an Op-Ed entitled, "Teachers driving, from a Tuba Player's and Police officer's perspective" because they are equally relevant.

Sorry Nikki. Love you to death, but I think Aaron had the only point of view that truly had relevance in the blog post.

My mother, a teacher, would make a comment as a mother on the age, but not from the perspective of a teacher.

I would call the blog non sequitur.

I have to disagree with you, Mike. I read the blog, and thought Nikki had relevant points. As a teacher she works with a lot of students with various personalities. So, while parents can talk about their own children, she has a different perspective in dealing with various kids and their parents, and sees the expectations that these parents have for their children. You might not have appreciated her perspective, but I did.

 

[Lewisc]

Nikki's logic is faulty and makes no sense.

Unlike traveling on the plane, there is not a member of the airline staff monitoring young guests.

Southwest allows a 12 year to fly as an adult. Unaccompanied minor fees, rules and escort policies aren't applicable.

A parent who is comfortable allowing their child to fly alone is likely to also feel comfortable allowing them take DME alone. Some 12 year old kids take public transportation to school.

Assume the child is flying as an "unaccompanied minor" per airline rules, policies and fees. The FA is "monitoring" the child (to least to some extent) A designated parent or guardian has to be at the gate to claim the child. I haven't read anything which suggests DME is going to be meeting those kids at the gate. Either way Nikki's logic is faulty.

Disney's policy makes complete sense. Parents decide if their child is mature enough to travel alone. I see no reason why a child could fly alone but not take DME alone.

 

[15isto2]

Disney are missing a trick here, they could have an unaccompanied minor service where mickey will meet your teen at the arrivals gate and hand them over to you at the resort.. I am sure the teens would love it

 

[k5jm]

I have to disagree with you, Mike. I read the blog, and thought Nikki had relevant points. As a teacher she works with a lot of students with various personalities. So, while parents can talk about their own children, she has a different perspective in dealing with various kids and their parents, and sees the expectations that these parents have for their children. You might not have appreciated her perspective, but I did.

I have to disagree, MJ. It was a total non sequitur. I found it not based on experience or fact, but on speculation. This is not "Home Alone 6: The kid goes to WDW."

 

[k5jm]

Disney are missing a trick here, they could have an unaccompanied minor service where mickey will meet your teen at the arrivals gate and hand them over to you at the resort.. I am sure the teens would love it

I think you make a great point! Although, I think it would be awesome if Iron Man met me at the gate and I am not a teen!

 

[Lewisc]

Disney are missing a trick here, they could have an unaccompanied minor service where mickey will meet your teen at the arrivals gate and hand them over to you at the resort.. I am sure the teens would love it

+1 Maybe offer a choice of characters. I'm sure Disney's fee will be almost as much as the airfare.